Brazil bounced back in style from their recent international struggles as they ended Senegal’s 10-match unbeaten run with a composed 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium only their second win in their last five matches against African opposition. Carlo Ancelotti’s men entered this friendly under pressure after a shocking 3-2 defeat to Japan during their Asian tour last international break, and the response was as decisive as it was impressive, Softfootball reports.
Brazil started with the urgency of a side eager to restore pride, dominating the early exchanges and carving out several promising openings. Matheus Cunha came closest during a lively first 20 minutes, rising highest inside the box only to see his powerful header cannon off the crossbar.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 28th minute, and it came through the electric Estêvão, the teenage sensation who continues to build a reputation as Brazil’s most exciting young talent. The Chelsea youngster curled a stunning left-footed effort into the far corner for his fourth international goal in five caps, reinforcing the hype that already surrounds him.
Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca further fuelled that excitement in the last few weeks, insisting he is lucky to have Estêvão and describing the youngster as different, a generational-level talent with rare composure and creativity.
Brazil doubled their advantage 10 minutes before halftime. Casemiro, showing his brilliant instincts inside the box, controlled Rodrygo’s dangerous free-kick before bending a composed finish into the bottom corner. It was yet another reminder of the midfielder’s knack for popping up with key goals, marking his third strike in his last four games for club and country.
Senegal came out of the break stronger and nearly halved the deficit when Nicolas Jackson pressured Ederson into a mistake. The loose ball fell kindly for Iliman Ndiaye, but he could only clip the post with the goal gaping a moment that summed up their evening.
The second half drifted into a more cautious rhythm, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut openings. As often happens in friendlies, the match lost intensity in the final stages, with Brazil content to control possession and see out a professional performance.
After the game, Brazil football via its official YouTube page shared the post match reactions of Coach Carlo Ancelotti speaking on the win against Senegal at the emirates stadium. Watch the full post match conference below:
Ultimately, it was a much-needed victory for Ancelotti’s side, who showed increased cohesion and defensive discipline after losing two of their previous three matches. Senegal, on the other hand, suffered a third straight friendly defeat, unable to match the sharpness and efficiency of a Brazilian team determined to reassert their dominance on the world stage.
